He had said it would take education, prevention and a crackdown on drug gangs to turn the tide against the rising rates of addiction in the country.

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How Best to Spend Federal Funds

State health officials are seeking advice as they prepare their proposal to the federal government for spending $23 million to fight the opioid crisis.

The Department of Health and Human Services has until Aug. 13 to submit a plan to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on how it wants to spend additional money that has been allocated for increasing access to medication-assisted treatment, reducing unmet treatment needs and reducing opioid-related deaths.

Health officials are holding a public input session July 23 in Concord. Written submissions also can be sent to sor@dhhs.nh.gov until July 27.

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Over the past few months, more than a dozen New Hampshire towns, cities and counties have filed lawsuits against major drug makers, accusing the companies of ignoring signs that their products were fueling an epidemic of addiction.

The lawsuits represent the latest turn in a story that has hit New Hampshire harder than much of the rest of the country. Here’s an overview of where things stand, and where they may be headed.

Intravenous drug users who share needles run the risk of catching deadly diseases.

Some organizations offer clean needles as well as safe ways to dispose of used ones.

Recently, Nashua's Division of Public Health and Community Services launched the Syringe Services Alliance of Nashua Area, which aims to bring this service to parts of Southern New Hampshire, and officials say it's making an impact.